SPORT DEFINITION

International Orienteering Association was founded in 1961. and since 1977. Orienteering has Olympic status.

Orientation is persons planned movement on an unknown ground in order to orientate and find, with the help of a map and a compass, predetermined checkpoints in shortest time possible. The person chooses a way between the checkpoints by himself. Competition grounds are woods, often inaccessible to common people, with various forms of vegetation and land configuration. The checkpoints are marked on a special Orienteering map with a circle and on the ground with a three-sided red and white small flag. Track length is set by expected time of winner. The track has to check all technical and condition skills of competitors. Ability of quick adjustment to competition conditions is conditioned by ground variety.

Competitions, as well as training take place at any weather conditions and any time of day or night, in context of set rules and propositions. Sportsmen compete in a number of categories, different competition types, winning placing.

Endurance and excellent cognitive capabilities are requested from competitors. Physical and psychic efforts that have to be overcome are comparable with marathon along with solving complicated cognitive problems of ground visualization from a map. Clearly, all this capabilities are very important for a soldier.

Even with a long-time experience, it is hard to determine accurately the share of reason, or consideration and running in sport as a whole. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the share of both component changes depending on the ground presented on the map and the set track that has to be crossed, in other words it changes from competition to competition. It is precisely for this reasons that not only excellent athletes enjoy in this sport, but also those who with less strength and speed have very good orienteering techniques and fast map reading ability.

Orienteering is a sport of fundamental importance for the army since it develops psychophysical abilities, by so directly raising fighting readiness of every individual involved in it. It's not necessary to emphasize the importance of familiarity with map reading techniques and usage of compass on an unknown ground and how can this knowledge help a soldier found in immediate danger. Therefore, Orienteering was declared as one of the fundamental military sports of Croatian Army.

Naturally, in order for the influence on changes in organism to be evident it is necessary to regularly train and participate on competitions. At the same time, competitors are also an example of how one should usefully fulfil his free time, and they are the source of knowledge in units too.

Orienteering is a new sport in Croatia, but in Europe it has a long-time tradition. As its name suggests, Orienteering is made up of two equally important components: orienteering and running.

Orientation with the help of a map and a compass is the only way to accurately determine position, by comparing the objects that surround us with ones drawn on the map and then, by determining cardinal points and with some other techniques of using a compass, a precise position can be determined.

Orientation movement is a planned movement on an unknown ground with its main purpose to orient with the help of a map and a compass and locating of predetermined objects drawn on the map. Orientation has a considerable significance in everyday human activities. Some professions are unimaginable without basic knowledge of map and compass usage and orientation (professional and sport pilots, yachtsmen, sailors, foresters, geologists, tourist guides, etc.), and it has special importance in the structures of Croatian Army. Naturally, all individuals in direct connection with nature, even in the context of their free time (hikers, hunters, scouts, excursionists, etc.), should also be acquainted with basic techniques of map and compass usage.

Besides practicality that orientation skill offers (you won't get lost and therefore loose precious time, you will economically make use of specific means of energy, not activate rescue services...), active Orienteering participants, or competitors, have also a possibility to feel themselves the other values which this activity offers.

We will mention only some of the Orienteering advantages: